Machine for grooving glass



Oct. 20, 1925.

G. P. HERRICK MACHINE FOR enoovme GLASS Filed Dec. 8, 1921 I N VEIV TOR.

M ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

emunnus rose nnimrox, or mrw YORK, 11. Y.

moms: FOR enoovnwe Gm.

Application filed December 8, 1821. Serial No. 520,828.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, GERARDUS Posr HER- nIoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan; in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Machines for Grrooving Glass, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for cutting or grinding a groove in glass, and particularly contemplates the provision of improved means for grinding a groove in the edge F of glass, such as an eye-glass or lens in order to provide a seat for a wire or other surrounding member employed for the purpose of connecting the glass or lens to a mountme The invention particularly contemplates the provision of means whereby a groove may be provided, if desired, at approx1- mately the middle of the edge of the glass or lens, that is, equidistant at all points from the sides thereof, or at any desired proportionate distance from the sides of the glass, without regard to the curvature of the sides or the thickness of the glass or lens.

The invention consists in the improve ments to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

T have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein F igure 1 is a view in front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation looking from the right toward the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of a chuck or work-holder Fig. at is a top plan view of a novel form of guide for controlling the relative position of the work and the cutter, and

Fig. 5 is a detailed top plan view of an accessory in the form of a lens through which the work may be viewed by the operator.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates a support, preferably in the form of a vertical column or standard, of any construction and design applicable for the purpose, the same preferably being mounted rigidly upon a horizontal base plate 2 ada ted to rest upon and be secured to a work. such or other suitable support. At the upper end of the standard l is an overhanging bracket arm 3 provided with oppositely disposed bearings 4, in which is journaled a horizontal transmission shaft 5 one end of which projects beyond one oi the said bearings and is provided with a .Worm gear 6 arranged in mesh with a worm 7 mounted in suitable bearings, one of which is shown at 8. On one end of the worm shaft 7 is a grooved pulley 9 adapted to receive a belt, not shown, by which power is transmitted from a motor or other suitable source, not shown, to said pulley, and consequently the shaft 5. The opposite end of the worm shaft 7 from that hearing the wheel 9 may be provided with a hand-crank 10, by means of which the shaft 7 may he rotated manully, if desired. The opposite end of the shaft 5 from that carrying the worm gear 6 is provided with a sprocket gear 11, for a purpose to be presently described. Upon the base 2, preferably to one side of the standard 1, is a shorter standard or column 12, having at its upper end oppositely disposed bearings 13, 14:, in which turns a horizontal shaft 15, carrying at one end a suitable cutting or grinding wheel 16 fixed to said shaft to revolve therewith. This wheel 16 may be of carborundum, or other material suitably charged and carrying abrasive material. The particular type of grinding wheel forms no part of my invention, and may be varied as occasion requires. The shaft also carries a grooved pulley l7 fixed thereto and adapted to be connected by a suitable belt 18 to any source of power.

I will now proceed to describe a preferred form of work-holder for supporting the work, i. e., a glass or lens, in operative relation to the cutter. This work-holder preferably comprises a suspensionmember in the form of an arm 19, which, at its upper end, is suspended by a suitable two-way pivot joint from the arm 3, heretofore described. The pivot joint is preferably provided with a stud shaft 19 seated in a suitable socket 20 in the arm 3, and held therein by a set screw 21, said stud shaft supporting a horizontal sleeve 22 having a depending ear or lug 23 extending between spaced cars 24 on the upper end of the member 19, said members 23, 24, being connected by a cross-pin 25 upon which themember 19 pivots. By this arrangement it will be seen that the member 19 may swing upon the stud 19*, and toward and away from the cutter'at a right angle to the axis of the latter, and ma also swing upon the pm 25 transversely of the cutter. At its lower end portion the suspension member 19 is provided with an arm 26 having a bearing 26 in which turns a shaft 27 carrying a sprocket car 28 arranged outside the arm 26, and riven by a chain 28 from the sprocket wheel 11, heretofore described.

The inner end of the shaft 27 is provided.

with a chuck member 29 of any suitable design adapted to contact one of the sides of a glass or lens, and preferably having for this purpose a resilient disc 30, such as a com osition of rubber, or other elastic materia and fabric. At a point intermediate its ends, and above the chuck 29, the suspension member 19 is provided with a horizontally disposed rigid arm 31 having ears 32 between which is ivoted, as at 32, a lever 33, the pivot being intermediate the ends of the latter. The lever 33 below its said pivot 32 and opposite to the member pivotal movement within the box.

26, is provided with a bearing box 34, cornprising oppositely disposed parts 35 between which is arranged a bearing block 36 having preferably pivots or trunnions 37 extending through bearing openings in said parts 35, whereby the said block has a l/Vithin the bearin block 36 turns a chuck shaft 38 substantiafiy alining with the shaft 27, and carrying on its inner end a chuck member 39 constructed in amanner similar to the chuck member carried by the shaft 27, heretofore described. The chuck member 39 is urged toward the chuck member 29 by means of an expansion spring 40 suitably mounted and located between the upper end of the member 19 and the upper end of the lever 33, said spring exerting its force expansively to urge the upper end of the lever 33 outward and its lower end inward toward the arm 26, heretofore described. By reason of the pivoted bearing box for the chuck member 39, it will be seen that the latter chuck member will be permitted to adjust itself properly to the face or side of the glass held between the chuck members.

Means is provided for moving the suspended work-holder so as to present the work carried by the chuck to the cutter. This means comprises preferably a shiftable weight member, consisting of an arm 41 pivotally seated within an opening 42 in the member 19, said arm being provided with an an ular extension or arm 43. The arm 43 is cut laterally and horizontally as at 43 parallel to the part 41, and isthen bent answer as at 43 parallel to the part 43, the part 43 carrying at its free end a suitable weight 44, the weight being located on the opposite side of the pivot 25 from the lever 33 By swinging the weight to the position shown in Fig. 2 in rear of the suspended work-holder and its point of suspen sion, the work-holder will be swung to cause the work to be presented to the cutter and will be yieldingly held in this position by the said weight. When the weight is swung to a point on the opposite side of the vertical center of the suspension device, as indicated at 44 in'dotted lines in Fig. 2, the suspended work-holder will be moved toward the right to carry the work out of operative relation to the cutter. The Weight also acts as a counterbalance about the pivot 25 and can be taken hold of to move the work-holder in any direction about said pivot. In order to maintain the weight at the proper positions to produce the results above described, I provide suitable stops 46, 47, respectively, on opposite sides of the pivot 42, whereby the weight will be supported. The stops may be provided by means of an arm 48 anchored to the member 19, in any suitable manner, as at 49, and bent to provide parallel portions constituting the stops 46 and 47, and between which the extension 43 is arranged.

I provide improved and novel means for positioning the edge of the glass relative to the cutter so that the cutter will operate to cut a groove in the edge of the glass at points equidistant from the sides of the latter, or at any desired proportionate distance from said sides, irrespective of the varying thicknesses of the glass or curvature in the sides thereof. This means comprises a guide member suitably mounted and operating independently of the cutter, and cooperating with the work to properlyposition the same relative to the cutter irrespective of the operation or position of the latter. This positioning or guiding means preferably comprises a pivoted support 50 mounted on a horizontal fulcrum 51 on the base 2 parallel to the axis of the cutter shaft 15, and upon the support 50 is an upwardly extending arm 52 having a lateral projecting portion 53 extending toward the work when the latter is supported between the chuck members. This laterally projecting portion comprises oppositely disposed guide members 54, each having an inner inclined guiding face 5.} forming a V-shaped recess, as will be apparent from Fig. 4, said faces 55 extending in opposite directions at an angle to the edge of the glass or work. The faces 55 receive between them the edge of the glass or lens and are adapted to be simultaneously engaged by the edge corners only of the latter, that is, the corners or angles between the sides and the edge of the glass or lens. fljl eguide members, and consequently the faces 55, are urged into contact with the edge corners of the glass by means of a contractile spring 56 having one end anchored, as at 57, to the support 50, and the other end anohoredto the base, as at 58, whereby, during the grooving operation, the support and the said faces are normally urged toward the work. Between the members 54 is provided a passage 59 through which the cutter 16 extends and is presented to the edge of the glass or lens.

If desired, the post 14 may be provided with a standard 14 carrying a magnifying glass 15 suitably mounted so that the operator may view the work as it progresses.

The support 50 is provided with a suitable stop 60 to limit its movement in the direction of the work, so that it will be held against falling onto the base when the workholder is moved out of operative relation to the cutter.

The construction being as above described, the operation is as follows: The operator throws the weight 44 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and adjusts the glass or lens between the chuck members in the manner heretofore described. The weight is then thrown to the position shown in full linesin Fig. 2, which serves to swingthe suspended work-holder toward the cutter and brings the work into operative relation thereto. When the suspended member is swung toward operative relation to the cutter, the edge of the glass is moved into engagement with the guides 55 so as to be properly presented and centered with relation to the cutter when the work is in position to be grooved. It will be seen that during the rotation of the work it travels in contact with the inclined faces 55, and these faces being disposed at angles to each other, preferably as shown, will press upon the edge corners only of the glass to center the transverse edge thereof relative to the cutter.

Some of the advantages of this form of my invention will be apparent when it is realized that where particles of abrasive are in the vicinity of the work and a rubbing n'iovable contact is made with the work, the

abrasive is liable to get between the points of contact or pressure and scratch the work. This condition is not so likely to occur at the corners of the edge, and if it does, the scratching does no injury. Moreover, the corners of the edge are the points to which the position of the groove should be related, while the sides or faces of the glass so often vary their position relative to the corners of the edge and each other, that if used as guiding lines or surfaces, they would position the cutter relative to themselves and not to the corners of the edge, which latter is the important relation to maintain. It

' ri ations.

will be seen that in a lens of great curvature, one side bein convex and the other side concave, a mi dle point between the sides or faces might even lie outside of the plane of the edge.

In the form illustrated, it will be seen that, as the perimeter of the glass passes between the oppositely disposed' contact faces 55, if the edge of the work becomes thicker, the faces 55 will recede equally along the edge corners (and vice versa) and as the plane of either or both of the edge corners varies, the work will be automatically moved in the direction of greater Variation an amount equal to the sum of the halves of the variations of both edge corners, where only one edge corner varies, or they both vary in the same direction. Vhen they both vary and in different directions, the resultant automatic movement will be in the direction of greater variation an amount equal to one-half the difference of the va- Therefore, for any variations of the planes of the edge corners the cutter will be opposite the middle of the edge.

It will be seen, moreover, that the machine, by having the faces 55 at different properly chosen angles, may be arranged to cut a groove all around automatically atalmost any proportionate distance between the sides of the edge, within practical limits, irrespective of the varying thickness of the edge or curvature of the sides; the driving mechanism cooperating with. the resultant computing guide to present the work to the cutter at all points on the perimeter at such fixed-proportionate but variable actual distance from the sides of the edge.

This, when the angles are equal, as in the drawings, and the proportionate distance is as one is to one, constitutes the ordinarily ideal result, making the strongest and symmetrical groove to receive the wire or other surrounding member previously mentioned.

Furthermore, by variation of the relatively forward position of planes 55 relative to each other, one can obtain an automatically variable ratio distance, as well as a variable distance from the edge corners, for variations in the planes of the edge corners at various points in the perimeter of the glass.

It may be well to note that, in many cases in optical practice, the so-called rimless lenses, which would be much used in connection with this invention, have a slight bevel on the edge corners to reduce their sharpness and the chance of chipping.

The sort of bevel referred to is meant to be very slight, and at 45 degrees to the edge. This bevel would, in some case, have a theoretical effect upon the operation of the guide, but is not defined more fully because, for practical purposes, it can be ignored.

A double resultant computing guide of almost any form could be made without departing from my invention, because the influenccof the contour of the sides of the glass, as well as the edge corners, when transmitted to a resolving compensating or proportioning mechanism, similar to the preferred form illustrated, IS the means by which a variable but fixed-proportionate intermediate position can be obtained between the cutter and edge corners of the work.

Thus, for example. any double guide mechanically arranged to operate similarly to Fig. 4 would be a resultant computing mechanism in the scope of this invention, e. g., one that used two oppositely disposed positions on the sides or faces of the glass or lens, as guiding contacts for a resultant computing guide means. Here the cutter would be constanth: positioned relative to the work. in accordance with the variations of the planes of the sides of the section of the glass which was between said oppositely disposed guiding positions. As previously mentioned, this guiding relative to the contour of the sides. instead of the planes of the edge COI'IIQIS, would not position the groove in a fixed relation to the edge corners, but, for glass of medium side contour, it might do so sufiiciently for certain commercial purposes.

W'hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens comprising a cutter, a workholder, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and the workholder and work-actuated guide means maintaining the center of the path of the cutter at a distance from one edge corner, which distance bears a fixed ratio to the distance of said center from the other edge corner, irrespective of variation in thickness of the lens.

2. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens comprising a cutter, a workholder, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and the workholder and work-actuated guide means maintaining the center of the path of the cutter equidistant from the edge corners of the lens, irrespective of variation in thickness thereof.

3. A machine. for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens comprising a cutter, a workholder, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and the work-holder and guide means adapted to contact with the edge corners only of the work and to maintain the center of the path of the cutter at a distance from one edge corner, which distance bears a fixed ratio to the distance of said center irom the other edge corner, irrespective of variation in thickness of the lens.

i. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, a workholder presenting the edge of the work to the cutter, means providing for movement between the cutter and work-holder, and guide means automatically movable relative to the cutter and work-holder and having a contact face adapted tin contact an edge corner of the work irrespective of the variations in contour and thickness thereof to thereby determine the position of the work relative to the cutter.

A machine for cutting a'groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, a work holder presenting the edge of the work to the cutter, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and work-- holder, and a guide comprising means automatically movable relative to the cutter and work-holder, and having an inclined contact face at an angle to an edge of the work and arranged to contact with an edge corner of the work to thereby determine the position of the work relative to the cutter.

6. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, a workholder presenting the edge of the work to the cutter, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and workliolder. and a guide comprising means whereby the relative position of the work to the cutter is automatically determined, and having oppositely disposed contact faces adapted to contact with the edge corner of the work irrespective of the variations in contour and thickness thereof.

7. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, aworkholder presenting the edge of the work to the cutter, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and workholder, and a guide comprising means whereby the relative position of the work to the cutter is automatically determined, said means having contact with two edge corners of the work to thereby vary the position of the edge of the work transversely of the cutter.

8. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, a suspended work-holder, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and work-holder, and work-actuated guide means maintaining the center of the path of the cutter at a distance from one edge corner, which distance bears a fixed ratio to the distance of said center from the other edge corner, irrespective of variation in thickness of the lens.

9. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, a workholder suspended for movement toward the cutter and transversely thereof, and workactuated guide means maintaining the center of the path of the cutter at a distance from one edge corner, which distance bears a fixed ratio to the distance of said center from the other edge corner, irrespective of variation in thickness of the lens.

10. A machine for cutting a groove in glass, comprising a cutter, a work-holder including oppositely disposed jaws pivoted relative to each other and having bearings to support a rotatable chuck, means for adspending said work-holder for movement toward and away from the cutter and transversely thereof, and a guide comprising means whereby the relative position of the work to the cutter is automatically determined.

11. A machine for cutting a groove in glass, comprising a cutter, a work-holder including oppositely disposed jaws pivoted relative to each other and having bearings to support a rotatable chuck, said chuck having an automatically alining chuck member bearing, means for suspending said workholder for movement toward and away from the cutter and transversely thereof, anda guide comprising means whereby the rela tive position of the work to the cutter is automatically determined.

12. A machine for cutting a groove in glass, comprising a cutter, a work-holder, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and work-holder, and a guide comprising-means whereby the cutter and workare automaticall ositioned relative to each other, said gui e heing pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from the work, and having oppositely inclined contact faces ada ted to engage the edge corners of the work.

13. A machine for cutting a groove in glass, comprising a cutter, a work-holder, means providing for relative movement between the cutter and work-holder, and a guide comprising means whereby the cutter and work are automatically positioned relative to eachother, said guide means includindg a pair of oppositely disposed faces a up ted to the work at opposite points, and an opening between sai faces through which the cutter extends to engage the work.

14. A machine for cutting a groove in glass, comprising acutter, a work-holder, means provi for relative movement between the cutter and work-holder, and a guide comprising means whereb the cutter and work are automatically tioned relativetoeach other, aaidgui emeam beingmounted for automatic movement relative tothe work-holder and cutter, and including a pair of jaws adapted to engage the work and an opening between said jaws through which the cutter extends to engage the work.

15. A machine for cutting a groove in lass, comprising a work-holden presenting te work to the cutter, a two-way pivot joint sup rting the work-holder whereby the latter is movable toward and away from and also transversely of the cutter, and an automatic guide movable relative to the cutter and work for moving the work transversely of-the cutter, said guide comprising means whereby the groove is cut at a constant proportionate distance from the corners o the edge of the glass.

16: A. machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, a work-holder presenting the work to the cut-, ter, a two-way pivot joint supporting the work-holder whereby the latter is movable toward and away from and also transversely of the cutter, and an automatic guide movable relative to the cutter and work for moving the work transversely of the cutter.

17. A machine for cutting a groove in the edge of a lens, comprising a cutter, a work-holder presenting the work to the cutter, a two-way pivot joint supporting the work-holder whereby the latter is movable toward and away from and also transversely maintaining t e center of the path of the cutter at a distance from one edge corner, which distance hears a fixed ratio to the distance of said center from the other edge corner, irrespective of variation in thickness of the lens and a weight arranged to urge the work toward the cutter.

18. A machine for cutting a ove in glass, comprising a cutter, a wor -holder, means providing for relative movement between the two, and guide means automatically movable toward and away from both the cutter and the work-holder in accordance with variations in the form of the glass, whereby the cutter is, positioned at a constant proportional distance from both edge corners of the glass.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed, my name.

GERARDUS Pos'r HERRIGKJ of the cuttteri1 work-actuated guide means 

